Wine with Leslie Williams: We cannit not yet be called rosé enthusiasts
I’m sad to report that Ireland is not quite keeping up with the times. Rosé wine sales are up massively in the US and throughout Europe and although sales are up in Ireland over the last decade, we could not yet be called rosé enthusiasts.
One in every three bottles bought in France is now Rosé and some UK supermarkets reported an increase in sales of 60% in 2017 and had a huge boost over the recent period of sunny weather.
Thankfully rosé is becoming more visible here helped by initiatives from supermarkets such as M&S and chains like O’Briens and offerings from the big brands. Santa Rita have a good new rosé at €12.50 that is launching this week and will be in every supermarket for the summer and beyond (tasting note below) and there are some excellent Portuguese and Spanish rosés in the Independent trade.
The O’Briens Rosé promotion is even better this year — buy two bottles and get the second one at half-price — with a range that includes three of my favourites — Gérard Bertrand Hedoisme from the Languedoc, Henri Bourgeois Petit Bourgeois Pinot Noir Rosé from the Loire Valley and l’Ostal Cazes from the same house as Château Lynch Bages.
M&S meanwhile have Brad and Angelina’s textured and fruity Mireval Rosé at the excellent price of €28 and at the other end of the scale their House Rosé is an unbelievably cheap €7 — at that price you would not expect much but this has light red fruits and a touch of character.
Also watch for a tasty solidly fruity 9.5% abv Marlborough Rosé. M&S will also have their excellent Provence Rosé available in magnum in July and also in pouches in selected stores — a foil-lined 1.5 litre bag perfect for small fridges.
The new pouch range also includes a decent Mâcon Villages Blanc and Côtes du Rhone Red and should prove good for picnics and holidays.
Remember also that Rosé is a great barbecue wine and is one of the best things to drink with spicy food.
I’ll be making sure there is a bottle chilled in my fridge for the rest of the year for warm days and to cheer me up on dull days.
For maximum cheering up purposes you may want to go with fizz and I recommend the new bottling of Valdo Spumante below and also Veuve Cliquot Rosé which is celebrating its 200th birthday.
BEST VALUE UNDER €15
Stockists: SuperValu, Tesco, Dunnes Stores
This will be pouring at the Santa Rita ‘Living la Vida 120’ garden at Bloom in the Park next weekend. Mainly Central Valley Cabernet Sauvignon with 15% Syrah from the coastal Colchagua region to give freshness. Lots of red fruit aromas with strawberry and raspberry mixed with some lemon citrus tones — solidly fruity on the palate with a pleasing texture.
Stockists: 1601, Bradleys, JJ O’Driscolls, World Wide Wines, Vintry, Molloys.
From the Vinho Verde region at the north of Portugal this is from local grapes Vinhão, Azal and Borracal and like its white cousin has a light spritz of fizz on the palate which brings out more of the ripe red fruits while also adding freshness and zing.
Stockists: Cinnamon Cottage, JJ O’Driscolls, 1601, Bradleys, World Wide Wines, McHughs
Spanish Rosé is often a little darker and fuller flavoured but don’t let that put you off as they are just as charming as the lighter French versions. This is a Tempranillo-Garnacha blend with textured cherry aromas and wild strawberry flavours and even a little fine boned structure and elegance.
BEST VALUE OVER €15
Stockists: World Wide Wines, Celtic Whiskey Shop, Baggot St Wines, O’Briens, The Loop
Veuve Clicquot created the first blended Rosé Champagne 200 years ago in 1818 and it is still a benchmark. A similar blend to the yellow label with c. 50% Pinot Noir, 20% Meunier and 30% Chardonnay but with 10-12% of the blend from still red wine.
Stockists: O’Donovans, 1601, Kingdom Tralee, Bradleys, The Loop, Martins, Corkscrew
Each year Valdo commission a new bottle design for their Rosé — this year it is fashion designer Fabrizio Sciavi. Made from Sicilian Nerello Mascalese, this pours a delightful salmon pink and has rose petal, cherry and raspberry aromas, fruity ripe cherry flavours and lingering tartness.
Stockist: JJ O’Driscolls Ballinlough, Karwigs Carrigaline
Who says Rosé isn’t serious and can’t age? Domaine Tempier’s legendary rosé is always best after a year or two in bottle and often even longer and is as serious a wine as any red. The 2016 is just about perfect — a beautiful colour, focused and energised in the glass with delicious taut red fruits mixed with dried rose petals and searingly dry on the finish.
